The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, which covers six counties, and includes Ross-on-Wye in South Herefordshire, is looking to buy a new, larger helicopter thanks to an award of £1 million from banking fines

Hanna Sebright, chief executive for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, states: “The injection of funds via the banking fine comes as very welcome news for the charity as it will help further enhance our vitally important emergency service. The allocation has enabled us to place an order for an upgraded H145 helicopter, which will cost in total approximately £7 million.”

The charity currently owns one EC135 helicopter, based at RAF Cosford in Shropshire and leases two further EC135 models from Babcock Mission Critical Services, based at Tatenhill airfield in Staffordshire and Strensham Services on the M5 in Worcestershire. The organisation has made the strategic decision to purchase a larger helicopter and lease just one further aircraft to further develop its clinical and operational service in advanced pre-hospital patient care. This will improve the charity’s long term resilience and sustainability by further reducing overall operating costs.

The new H145 helicopter provides a great number of benefits including a larger interior so young patients can be flown accompanied by a parent or the elderly with a carer or spouse, and will enable improved medical equipment to be carried on board to treat more complex emergencies.

Hanna adds: “The new helicopter will be built over the next 18 months and will become operational in 2018. It is positive news for us at the charity and the communities we serve as it will ultimately benefit our patients for generations to come.”

The announcement follows extensive lobbying by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and the Association of Air Ambulances. For more information about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and how to support the organisation, please visit www.midlandsairambulance.com or call the team on 0800 8 40 20 40.